DES MOINES, Iowa (April 22, 2021) – Multiple members of the Loyola University Chicago men's track & field team clocked personal bests as the Ramblers raised the curtain on the Drake Relays this evening in Des Moines, Iowa.
 
"I thought it was a very positive day overall with many guys stepping up to make the most of the opportunity," Loyola assistant coach Mircea Bogdan commented.  "Demetri (Panici) and Derek (Rink) both ran lifetime bests.  I really think they both can go even faster.  Blake (Buysse) ran a personal best in the 5,000m run and looked much sharper than last week.  The 10,000m run guys were amazing as well.  They ran together the whole time and the results were pretty good."
 
The senior pairing of Demetri Panici and Derek Rink got the night off to a terrific start for the Maroon & Gold inside historic Drake Stadium in Iowa's state capital.  Competing in the 800m run, Panici, out of Tinley Park, Ill., ran a personal-best 1:51.43 to place fourth overall in the unseeded section of the event.  Shortly after, Rink, a native of Appleton, Wis., answered with a personal best of his own, placing seventh in the unseeded 1,500m run at 3:51.45.
 
Junior Blake Buysse fell just 11 seconds shy of a spot in Loyola's top 10 in the unseeded 5,000m run, turning in a personal-best effort of 14:35.47 en route to a sixth-place finish.
 
The Ramblers received big showings across the board in the 10,000m run, with juniors Nathan Kolbus, Chantz Visse, and Nick Chudzik all impressing.  Kolbus led the trio, checking in 10^th overall in 30:31.73.  Visse took 13^th at 30:40.89, with Chudzik crossed close behind in 30:53.26 to claim 14^th.
 
"This distance and middle-distance squad is getting better by the week and that means something," Bogdan concluded.  "All their work through the season is paying off."
 
Loyola continues action at the Drake Relays on Friday, while another group of Ramblers open a two-day stay at the Clark Wood Open in Louisville, Kent.